Wire-seaming machine



1,646,109 F. F. SCHMIEGE V v WIRE sEAMING MAcHNE Filed Aug. 2. 192g .5sheets-sheet 1 l SW1/Wei FRAN/f F50/#MGE attenta;

Patented Oct. 25, 1927.

WIRE-SEAMING :amarilla-E'.r

This invention relatesto'` Wire' seaniing Inachines, andl moreparticularly to a ma chine adapted for sevv'ingl' the endsf Wire stripsvtogetherI to'pf'orln long' continuous" pieces.

An importent `@b3ta of' the invention VisV to 'provide .a4novel'lrnachine of the semi-auto- `mat-1c'type adapted for stitchingtheends of i for'p'ositioning' the strips adjacent tliesew'" lmay bemanuallyv iifsertedttliroughthe' Wire Y .A g p portion of Wire stripstogether. Y 4 I,

A further ob ect 1s to provide novel means ing` mechanism,- thepositioning rnea'ns being adapted to lirot'ectl the edges of the'bwi're.I

further-V object` is to Aprovide' au toriiatic' rre'ansl forsuccessively eedin'gthe Wire' used as@ a stitching" nieajn's upwardly'Vbetween adjacent ends of the Wire strips whereby 1tl toI complete eachsuccessive stitch. l l y A' further object isto Iprovide novel ,meansvforfli'ol'digf.tliewire stationarywand to' advancethe'seiviiigfinechanisrn afterv each successive strip. f

A further volojec't,y is to' provide 'an lendless"V belt mechanismadaptedto receive the end' ofV the Wire usedinstitoliing after it is`in;

serted througlifone Ofthewire sheets and to return the vfree" end ofthestitchingl Wire upwardly loetvveen;"the4 adjacent ends of the Sheets.'n' n ,v

A yfurther object isA to provide 'niean's lfor releasing-` thefstitching- Wire from v ,the ende` lessbelt referred t in`order themay'pbe drawnupiva'rdly against theL wire sheets toconiplete eachsuccessive stitching operat'ion.` Y Y *Y e i. Other obj ect's Vandadvanta'gesof the inven tion will( bec-orne aploar'entV durng`t11ecourse ofl the following!\description. l j In th'edra'lwingslia'veshovvn one embodi- Fig.- 1 isA aside elevation ofthe Vr'nachiiie`parts-beingsh-own in section;

rig. -2- is a detaily Section on une df; Fig,1; Y

lag. a is. a' Similar View" on iineeaof 5 isA an enlarged detail sectionsubstantially' on line 5'-5 of- Figi. 1;.

nig. .ce is a' fragmentary Sie@ elevation a portieriI off'rth'estitching-Wire means,l parts being' brokenavvayj and parte' is an'enlarged: side elevation of thelcarriageand' assoclated elenientsf;`

lig. 8 `isi an enlarged side `elevation of 'a' portionfo'fY one end ofthe apparatus, parte being shown section; *Y 'Q VFigi Qisha"y detailsectional view througlr a portionfof the carriage feedingn'ieclianisin.;`y

I' vFig@ 10is a detail section Online `10-1110 of' 1;

Fig; 11 is e Similar viewrohi'i'ne '114111 for o5 Fi'g; f p f c Figlf 12isy adetail perspective of theI drivel: i

pulley and shaft; c Y /Figj 13,. is a' detailf end elevation' ofthe'd'rivingendof the apparatus; v

Figgj 14 is a letail section "on line'll--l/i' of Fig.' i;

Fig. 15

apparatus;

portingl nieans not shown) such as a? `talol'e'y orthe like'.Z Apairof'tra'cks"111*are'arranged?y isl an enlarged end elevation of'aongoppos'ite'sdes'ofthe base 10, each track 85 edges-0f the' base and ahorizontal' portion 13'v orining the traclcmeans. y -r p' Acarriage'1'15` lis rho'unte'dto travel on the tracks 11",'v by" suitableWheels" 16` j-oufrnallely onjxl'eis'fl?. Thiscariage includes' a baseportion 1.8 having" depending side ineinbers' v 19,` the lowerendsQOoii-'Wliich extend" out? Wardlv beneath4 the railY lportions.13*to' lpre-- avent upvvadfniovenieutfoil: the carriage las Willgbe"apparent. The v carriage lsv'pr'ovid'ed' Awith pa-ir'ofsppa'cedfverticalbearing' standarde 21, asslovvn in `Figs.11,g4 andy?.plll leyv QQLis arranged* between the standards; 21y entre Supprted byRelaxed t@ a shaft 23- `beinglforn'iedof angle-ironan'd including a'vertical portion 12 se'ci'ireclY againstA Opposij journaled`l inthestandards 21.' i'The''-'shjaft"23.'E f

and this shaft will:'hereferiedftotindetailffextendsloutwarelly'fhey-ond ther-Carriage 1'5 i e v i areffjburnald ienne-fend'take p levers 26, the levers being pivoted intermediate their ends upona shaft 27 which is journalled in the standards 2l.` The opposite ends28 of the levers are normally urged downwardly by springs 29` the lowerends of the springs being suitably'connected to the carriage as will beunderstood. A shaft 30 is secured to one of the bearing brackets,substantially in horizontal alinement with the shaft 25, and supports aroller 31 arranged adjacent the bearing bracket to which the shaft- 30is secured. The opposite end of the shaft 30 is spaced from the oppositebearing bra.cket,'for a purpose to be described, and supports a separatereduced roller 32. The shaft 30 preferablyhas one end threaded andadapted to be inserted in a threaded opening in the bearing bracket to Ywhichgit is secured, the opposite end of the f bifurcated ends of themember 43 is inclinedl shaft preferably being provided with a screwdriver slot or the like 33 by means of which the shaft may be tightenedin position.

yRearwardlyof and above the shaft 30, an.

other shaft 34 is journalled `at opposite ends in the bearing Ybrackets21 and supports a roller 35. An endless belt 36 passes beneath thepulley 22, over the pulley 24, beneath the roller 31, over the rollerand thence back beneath the pulley 22, as clearly shown in Figs. 4 and5. It will be obvious that rotation of the shaft 23 is adapted to drivethe belt 36, the purpose of which will be described. A stitching wireguide 37 is arranged with its lower end adjacent the rollers 31 and 35,as shown inV Figs. 5 and 6. This guide is formed of sheet met-al andihasits edges 38 and 39 slightly overlapped and inclined downwardly andtoward the left, as viewed in Fig. 6. TheV guide is adapted to besupported by a y'bracket 40, the opposite end' of which is secured to avertical member 41 preferably 'formed integral with the carriage 15.

Referring to Fig. 4, the numerals v42 and 'f .42' designate wire sheets,the ends of which are to be stitche'datogether. vA positioning member43, preferably formed` of steel is adapted to properly position theedges of the wireV sheets during the stitching operation. A pairofpositioning members proper, indicated' by the numerals 44 and 45, arearranged on the end of the vmember 43, the lat ter'being bifurcated asat 46. One of the downwardly as at 47 while the other is inclinedupwardly as at 48,. The members 44 and 45 obviously are inclinedsimilarly to the ends of the member 43, and may be se- Y, l.cured tosuchends in any suitable manner such as by soldering or brazing. The memnbers 44v and 45 are substantially U-shaped to receive the edges of thewire sheets, as shown in rig. 4.

Means yare provided` for moving the carriage 15 in successive stepstoward the right,

as viewed in Fig. 1, and means also are provided for limiting themovement of the carriage toward the left. Referring to Fig. 4, thenumeral 51 designates an arm secured to the carriage 15 and extendingrearwardly thereof. A pull rod 52 is provided with an eye 53 surroundingthe reduced end 54 of the arm 51` and a cotter-pin 55 retains the eye inposition. The rod 52 is formed in a plurality of sections 53, the endsof which are adapted to be joined by couplers 54', for a purpose to bedescribed. The end of the outermost rod section 53 is turned forward'-ly at right angles as at 55 to extend through' in an operatingbell-crank lever 59. They bar 56 is supported inthe bell crank lever bya roller 60, and ajpawl toothV 61 is adapted to engage the teeth 57. The

upper end 62 of the pawl projects upwardly beyond the end of the bellcrank lever, and is normally urged downwardly by a spring 63. The bellcrank lever 59 is pivotally con-V nected as at 64 to a bracket 65arranged on the table or support previously referred to. An operatingrod 66 is pivotally connected to the free end of the bell-crank lever`as at 69. As shown in Fig. 1, a shaft 67 is journale'd in suitablebrackets 68 and is provided at one end with a crank 69 to whichr thelower end of the rod 66 is connected. A treadle 70 is splined to theshaft 67 as at 71 and is adapted to be moved along the shaft 67 by aU-shaped member 72 supported on the -floor or the like by rollers 73. Itwill be obvious that depression of the treadle 70 is adapted to pull therod 66 downwardly and swing the upper' end oft-he bell crank lever 69outwardly, thus pulling the bar 56 and rod. 52 to move the carriage 15to the right, as viewed in Fig. 1. Y

A bumper bracket 74 is arranged over the tracks 13 and is'adapted toslidefther'eonas will be apparent. vThe bracket 74 is provided at one`end with a relatively vshort vertical arm 75 and at its opposite endywith a relatively tall arm 76. Thel positioning member 43 is securedtothe upper end of the arm 76 by screws or Athe like 77.` A shaft 78projects through -the arms 75 and 76 and is threaded at one end as at79. A nut 30 is threaded on the shaft 7 8 and engages the inner face ofthe arm 76. A nut 81 is threaded on the outer end of the shaft 78,against the outer face of the arm 76 and a bumper 82 is secured to thenut 81 and contacts with the adjacent end of the carriage 15 to limitits movement toward the left, as viewed in lll) Fig. 7. r The' shaft 78is formed of a plurali weer@ through agulide.V bracket 82Which isslilable up on, .t he .tracks '11.

A vvorin-.Shaftf 8isfconnectedto the adjacent end ofthe ,outermost-shaftsection 7 9.-by

. 'acoupling l84 -secured lin position loyboltsI 'lhekshaft` 83 is journal led inbearings 86 preferably fcarriec'l by an integral` base. 87.:Asshmvn in f-Figs. land 9, a ratchet Wheel 87 having ratchet'teeth881thereon surrounde` `the Ashaft 85 between-the bearingsJ 86, and isinternally `threaded to'engage the threads of the Worin? shaft. .A.collar 89 freely sur rounds the l-shaftgS' between Lthe ratchet'lWheeland one .of the bearings 86'. The collar 89 .is provided. With, an'integral arm 90 yprojecting,outwardly ytherefronfi andpivotallyrCQnnected at kits outer end as at 91 with the/*upper end ofarod 92.` The lower end et `the rod-.92 is .connectedto the outer end Kefa-crank 93, Securedtothe shaft 67 as -Shown in; Fig-1. vA paxvl 911ispivotally c onnectedt, the; arn1,90, as at 95am] engages i the teeth;889i' the. ratchet Wheel. A regul ati y'scribed(. The-bearing 10?.inaybe.` provided inggmeniber 96 is.y arranged with itsupper endadapted tQcont-act .with Ithe pawl 94e, lthe lower endeof theregulatingdevice being se- I eulj'ed toene of thelbearings 86 andadapted tolfbeffadjusted verfticallyQto vary the move- :inoveinentofthefarrni/O, in 'a mannen to be c l,es`.c1ibed.

.iMeansfare, p rovidedrfordriving the pulley 22 and ',the. endlessIbelt' ,associatedr therewith.

A As'shown in Figure 17, the shaft 28vis vformed ot a1 plurality ofsections- 97 adapted to be secured togetherby couplings98 lsecuredj tothe adjacent ends 'of' the shaft sec.-V

tiofns by set screws 99. The shaft.sections -97..a1'e associated with; apositivey drive` clutch 100to `be driven thereby. ,AsgsllownifingFigs; 1andl 11, the, dutch.coniprisesaeylin-fv 'dricalineniber 101 havingacap102. arranged on one end and provided with' an opening slidablyreceiving .the adjacent section of the shaft V23.- This shaftY section'isv provided Nwith a lug lsecurefd thereto. bya sereWlOll,A orformedintegral'avi-th the ,shaft section. This. lug is adapted to.'contact with the lug 105 Asecured .Within the eylinder 101.' As

[previousiy statedQthe adjacentseetion of vthe V shaft-23 is slidable inthe cap, 102 and Aitjvvill beappa'rent that Whenf the lug 103. vslidesin- Wardly beyond thelllg 105V there\vil1pbe no postiveconnectionbetween the'shajt 23and 'the clutch whereby the latter isjreelyrotatable.- Y 'A shatt 106 issecured to the clutch andfis rotatable .inTa bearing 1071 Vsliflably supportedy upfonjthetracks,` 11."y Collars f108 fare. ,secured to. .the shaft. 106 o'neppostesdes. of.,thebearing107 wherebyl the bearingis caused 'to slide along the trackswhen thel vshaft (10S-is moved longitudinally in a manner; tojbe'dewitharoller.10.9.ationeeidejto support the rod. 52. Qutvvardly ofithebearing f10'? and' ivithinthe bearingsl 111. Yr lt- Willbe obviousthat 4the ,@.Ollafell are provided witbier-.81.1.-

ings correspending in shape to'l .thelcrpsssecl- :tional I shape .ot theshaft 110y whereby.; the latter is. slidablyg Asupported .in these:collars.

A.. Pulley-113 .surroundthe Shaft 110 bewege .the.b earirigs's 111, thispulley being v provided `nwith a. central opening 114 corresponding .inv

shapetothecrosssectipnal shape" oftheshatt 110 .Whefbwet-afenvt-the.puleyfeadapt- .edmefetretatienlof the. Shaft 110, but the latteigisadaptedlto slide longitudinally ,v vitlx- :in tliepulley. y. v l f ,lt1j`s des'irable to arrange thev vguidegfl?` .with its upper ,endbetween.the'adjagent edges i of. lthe .wire sheets; as shown. Figs that,thestitching Wire 115.v may be fed u p'- .Wardlv between the adjacentedges ofthe vire.' beets byl the .Qperationgof-fthe belt: 36-

In order to `Iproperly suppol'tjthe Wirejin posltion for the stitchingoperation, (I VA,preter to employ Va pairof elongated bloelgs; 116

4;' and This arrangement iseinployedso 9 0 and 117 arranged;forwandlyand rearvvardly i .ofthe baseIlO, aeshowninligfkv-Forthe salie o3t. 1l 1u strafg1 on,- thesevv kblocks have; .been

omitted; from the oth er-.ligures Vof the :dravving, with .the.exception of v Figa 7;

tracks 113 and ar.e 1seeured,^t0 the; basef-10 by Cleats-.118i the upperell-ds. et the blocks .being rgidlyonnected t0.. each. other; by.` af

A cross-bar 119. Aqclainping bracket 12,0;i's

secured .against the upper. faces 0f thev These .bl'eekexted througheut,the-length; @fthe their. uppe`r-. ends the `lScrews;being adapted.Iv

clamping members '123 are elevatedyvhen the Wire is placed'in positionas shown itt-Fig.f 4, `and are. adapted' to be secured dovvnfvvarellyt0I cla-nip the f .\vi1fe. tol prevent movement lOllS' (not shown)arranged -r'eaiwardlyof the; Yapparatus,.the.sheets 42, being. adapted.to i y be ated directly across, t heto p; lof the 'block 1117(pThesheet, 413 is, adapted ,to beifed fbe v heath i th blocks@ 116;'and'. 117, upwardly thereof during the stitehin g J operation( f @T he`Wire sheets,` may be supported .uponsuitable apparatus is. as

letti-side'. of. the n apparatus, f. as vvievvedupn 7oy v bearings 111k-preferablyormed integral Fig. 1, a sufficient number of shaft sections79being removed to permit the'carriage to `vbe arranged as described. Asuitable number of the shaft sections 97 are connected in the shaft 23to properly elongate this shaft.

. ofV andV is fed VbetweenV theV belt 36 and the roller 31. ith theclutch 100 in the position shown in Fig. 1, the pulley 22 will be irotated from a suitable source of power connected tothe pulleyv 11.3.Thus the roller 31 will Vbe rotated'and the free end of the wire will'befed around this roller and upwardly through the guide 37 whereupon it isgrasped bythe hand of the operator.

The treadle 70 is then depressed, pulling the rod 66 downwardly andswinging the bell'crank lever 59, The pawl 61 draws the bar 56 outwardlythus moving the carriage to the right. This action causes the stitchingthread to work its way along thedroller 31 until'it slides off to theroller 32, whereupon the treadle 70 is further depressed, and theoperator swings the free end of the wire out of the guide 37 between theedges 38 and 39 thereof. This further depression of the treadle 70causes the stitching wire to slide off the end of the roller 32,whereupon the operator may pull the stitchingV wire upwardly to completethe stitch. The stitch thus formed includes a portionprojecting-downwardly through one of the wire sheets, and thenceupwardlybetween the sheets. 'The free end of the wire is then inserted betweenwires of the vother sheet,

' near the edge thereof, the free end of the wire again being graspedbetween the belt 36 and roller 31 -in the manner previously described.Thus it will be apparent that in the successive stitching operations,the stitching wire is Whipped back andfo'rth substantially in a figure 8path to secure the wire sheets together. It will be apparent thatdepression of the treadle is adapted to move the carriage to the rightby swinging the bell crank lever 59, and movement of the Vcarriage islimited by contact between the' end of rod 423 and the inner end of theshaft 106, at which time the clutchY lugs will be disengaged. Aftereachsuccessive stitch is pulled upwardly, after'being released from theroller 32, the treadle is released. Any

suitable means may be employed for return- Aing the carriage to normalposition, and in the drawings T lhave shown a spring 124 connectedbetween the carriage and the vertical arin 76. Similarly a spring 125 iscon- ,nected between the bell crank lever 59 and the adjacent bearing111, to return the bellc-rank lever to normal position. Gbvioiisly,

inward movement of the carriage will be limited by contact with thebumper,` and further movement of the bell crank lever 59 inwardly causesthe clutch lugs 103 and 105 to engage, whereby rotation of the-belt 136may be effected for starting the next stitch; ylVhen the treadle 70 isrelease-d the arm 90 is moved upwardly and the pawl 94 rotates the wheel87. The threads in the wheel 87 engaging the threads of the worm shaft83, cause the latter to'be moved inwardly, thus advancing the bracket74- and bumper 82 so that the carriage is in'position for the nextstitch. rThe stitching wire is then inserted between the wires of one ofthe sheets in the manner described, and after the end of the wire haSpassed yupwardly through the lguide 37, the treadle 70v is depressedsufficiently to disengage the clutch" members. rihus it will be apparentthatmovement of thecarriage to the right is effected by depression ofthe treadle to release the stitching wire from the roller 32, and theoperation of the worm 83 when the treadle is released serves to advancethe Vcarriage step by step. This step-by-step movement causes the bar 52to move with the carriage, thus causing the teeth ofthe bar 56 to slidebeneath the pawl 61. As the carriage ad-l vances, successive shaftsections 97 and rod sections 53 are removed, and shaft sections '.79 areadded until the stitching operation -igcompleted It will be obvious thatfor relatively narrow wire sheets, it will be unnecessary to change theshafts and rods referred to.

The feed of the rod 83 may be varied by vertically adjusting the member96, it being apparent that the pawl 9a cannot engage the ratchet teethuntil the arm 90 is moved upwardly a sufficient distance to permit the,

pawl to be released from thc adjusting mem- .ber 96.

The members 44 and 45 not only serve to position the edges of the wiresheets and permit the upper end of the guide to project therebetween,but also protect the edges of the sheets. The stitch may be varied byemploying different positioning members the U-shapedv portions of whichare arranged varying distances apart. The stitching wire is insertedthrough the wire sheets by passing it throughy the space between theinner ends of the bifurcated arms 47 and 48.

It is to be understood that the foi-m of the invention herewith shownand described isr to be takenjas a preferred example of the same andthat various changesfin the shape,

size and arrangement of parts maybe re-v comprising helding meansadapted to pesinre lLIU tion adjacent edges of sheets of wire inslightly spaced relation, andmeans adapted toI receive` a' stitchingwire insertedA :between the wiresV of one sheet and toreturn the end ofthe stitching wire "between the adjacent 2. Apparatus of the characterdescribed comprising ,means for holding theadj acent g f edges of a pairof sheets'of wire V"parallel to `vand slightly spaced fromgeachi4otherf-a guide 'having anfoutletend" arranged between the 1adjacentedges"fof thelslie'ets, faii'd means adaptedto receive the end `of astitching 'wire 'inserted between the yiviresi on one sheet 1and toinsert the wire vthrough the Qopr between the vadjacent Aedges of thesheets." l' i' l' i V` j3. AApparatus of vthe characterj describedcomprising a'pair of substantiallyflU- haped ii'iembers adaptedv ,toreceive adjacent edges :of apair of sheets ofwire tofhold'thejfrad-"jacentfaiid parallelA to each other, 'and-means 'fdr regeelvmg the endofa stitching wire 'inreturn it"between'jthe adjacent edges'f'fhesheets. A' "l seiteld between th'ewii'es of one sheet and to 4l.'apparatus of the character 'described COmPrSlls' a pair of membersadaptatif-t0 support the adjacent edges of a ,pair of sheets of 'wireparallel to and slightly spaced wfrom each other, a guidearran'ged withvYone end @between the adjacent edges ofthe sheets, and feed vmeansarranged adj acent `the other end 'of said guide, said feedl meansbeingadapted to 'receive the end offal'stitch-ingwire inse'rted between tthewires of 01131 Sheet and 1-,0

insert itthioiigh the last namedfendfoif said guide.

'5. Apparatus ofl the'character described comprising a pairof ymembersadapted-to support'tlieadjacentl Vedges4`v of V:1f-pair of sheets .ofwire `parallel to and slightly-spaced Afrom e'achhotheif, aguidearianged with' one end between the* adjacent jedgesfcfif Ethes'li'eets,

j feed means arranged adjacentthef'otlierend of said guide,A said feednieacnsbein'g-adapted `gto receive the lend ofa stitching-wire insertedbetween the wires o'fonesheet andto insert it tliroug'gfh` the lastnainedend of'sa-id guide, and means for effecting the-release of thestitching wire from said feeding means Apparatus o fthegcharacter"described iomprising apaii" of `members adapted to supportthe adjacent edges of a pair of sheets of wire parallel to and slightlyspaced from each other, a guide arranged with one end between theadjacent edges of the sheets, feed 'mea-ns arranged adjacent the otherend of said guide, said feed means being adapted tol receive the end ofa stitching wire inserted between the wires of one sheet and to insertit through the last named end T "said guide, means for eecting therelease of the stitching wire from said' feeding means, and means lforeffecting a step `by'step 'movement .of said guide land /said'feedVmeans 'as ,the stitching 'wire is successively re'let'ised from saidfeeding'means. i

' -i'AAppa-ratus' ofthe/character v`described comprisingy v means forholding a'l pair I'of' sheets of wire'jwi-th two of the edges thereofparallel and slightly spaced lfrom eachother, v"a guide-arranged vwlithits uppe'I-endproje'ctingbetween the-adjacent *edgesl Aof "the -sheets,-niean's 1inclucl'ing sa pulley and entend wire inserted 'through theywires :of `Aone-sheet andito insert itLthrough'th'e opposite V'fend of`said guide, means ttor eifectiiigthe `freleasel Aof said-stitching wirefrom said pulley-and sai'drbelt, and-means for moving saidg-'uide A andsaid feeding *'inealnsffglongitudinallyL with respect tothe adjacentedges fof-the sheets afterl the stitching wire is released fromsai'd-feedingineafns 51 "V 8. Apparatus constructed in accordance withcla-ini 17, provided wfith'f-aLc-arriage 'adapted to support said guideandfsaid'ffeeding means, and a trackway' lada-pted'y to 'lsufp-f"'port`-said carriage for 'longitudinal move;

'ment with respectto the adjacent :edgesof the sheets. l 1 -QKApparatusof the character' described comprising -a pair of stationary U-shapedineni'be'rsadapted to'rece'ive edges offwfifre sheets to hold' 'themparallel' -to ,and slightly spaced from each other, aca-rriaigeloiigitudinally movablev with yrespect'to thea'd'jacentQedgesof the sheets, -a guide :carried byflsaid carriage and havingf itsupper end-project 'ingibetwe'e'n the'adj-acent edgesof thel's'heets', Y

A-feeding ineans Vincludii'i'g' a pu'lleyf'and an endless-beltadapted toVifeceive 'a stitching wire inserted between the'wires'gof onesheet andadapted to 'insert it through-the opposit-eend of said guide, atjr'eadle havingabias :to normal positionv vand v"movable away fromnormal posit-'ionfltoeffect `movement ,of'said carriage 4to release th'estitchingwireifrom lll) said feeding means, and .means dependent lincludes a bumper contacting with said carv riage, resilient meansnormally urging said carriage toward said bumper, and connectionsbetween said bumper andsaid treadle for effecting movement of saidbumper successively upon return of said treadle to normal. position.

12. Apparatusfof the character described l allel to and slightly. spacedfrom each other, c a carriage arranged beneath said holding "means, atrackway supporting said carriage for longitudinal movement with respectto the ladjacent edges of the sheets, a guide carried by said carriageand having its upper end projecting between the adjacent edges of thesheets, feedingmeans adapted to receive the end of a stitching wireinsertled between the wires of one sheet and to return it-through theopposite end of-said guide, a shaft adapted to drive said feeding meansand longitudinally movable with said carriage,drive means for saidshaft, and means for effecting movement of said carriage to release thestitching wire fromy said feeding means. v

13. Apparatus constructed in accordance with claim 12, provided withmeansfor effecting astep-by-step movement of said carriage'npon thesuccessive releasing of the stitching wire from said feeding means.

i' M14. Apparatus constructed in accordance with claim 12, wherein themeans for effecting movement of said carriage includes a treadle havinga bias to normal position, and means controlled bythe movement of saidtreadle back to normal position for effecting a step by step movement ofsaid carriage upon the successive releasing of said stitchingwirev fromsaid feeding means.

15. Apparatus of the character described comprising a pair ofsubstantially U-shaped membersadapted to receive the' adjacent edges ofa pair of wire'sheets to hold them parallel to and slightly spaced fromeach other, a carriage arranged adjacent the edges ofthe sheets, a guidecarried by said carriage and having its upper end projecting between theadjacentedgesof the sheets, feeding vmeans including a pulley and anendlessbelt for receiving the end of a stitching wire insertedbetween'the wires of one sheet and adapted to return it through theopposite end of said guide, a' trackway arrang-ed beneath said carriage,wheels supporting said carriage on said trackway for longitudinalmovement with respect to the adjacent edges `of the sheets, a shaftconvnected to said feeding means and longitudinally movable with saidcarriage, means for driving said shaft, a rod connected to saidcarriage, a toothed bar carried by said rod, and means engaging theteeth of said bar for effecting longitudinal movement of said carriageto release the stitching wire from said feeding means. Y

16. Apparatus constructed in accordance with claim 15, wherein saidlast-named `means includes a bell-crank lever, a pawl,V

ing the teeth of said bar, a treadle shaft, a

crank carried by said treadle shaft, a rod pivotally connected atoneendto said crank and at its opposite end to theV other end of saidbell-crank lever, a treadle having a bias tonormal position and movablein` one direction for rocking said treadle shaft, and means controlledby the return of said treadle to normal positionv for effectingymovement of said carriage.

18. Apparatus constructed in accordance with claim 15, wherein saidlast-named means includes a bell-crank lever, a pawl carried by one endof said lever and engaging the teeth of said bar, a. treadle shaft, acrank carried by said treadle shaft, a'rod pivotally connected at oneend to said crank and at its opposite end to the other end of saidbell-crank lever, a treadle having a bias to normal position and movablein vone ydirection for rocking said treadle shaft, a bumper contactingwith said carriage, a spring normally urging said carriage toward saidbumper, a worm-shaft adapted upon rotation to effect movement of saidbumper, a worm-wheel associated with said l worm-shaft, andA connectionsbetween said Wheel and said treadle for Arotating said wheel upon returnof said treadle to normal position. c y

s In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

. FRANK F. SCHMIEGE.

